New International Collaborations Strengthening Support for Game Developers

Together with Game Habitat, we led the development of the initiative within the BSG Go! project to address a clear gap: while many programmes support game studios directly, there has been no dedicated structure for the organisations that help those studios grow. The League fills that gap by connecting more than twenty hubs and giving them a shared arena to exchange tools, methods, and opportunities.

As part of building The League, Skellefteå Science City contributed to key elements of its identity and visibility, including the logo, a joint booth concept used at European industry events, and the foundations of the network’s upcoming website. These elements help position The League as a recognisable, professional, and long-term European initiative.

During the BSG Go! project, The League evolved into an active network with quarterly meetups, a shared communication workspace, newsletters, and joint delegations to events such as GIC Poznań and Games Ground Berlin. These gatherings enable hands-on exchange on topics like mentoring quality, early-stage team support, community-building, and internationalisation. The Spotlight platform, which we co-developed with East Sweden Game, further strengthens the network by giving hubs a shared way to promote their studios internationally and highlight talent from different regions.

– Community building and  support are key for sound and prospering regional game industry ecosystems. The LEAGUE network is a powerful instrument for regional hubs to exchange on peer-to-peer level, learn from each other and together, and collaborate to scale-up the impact and scope of their support. Exciting times ahead! Says Christine Sauter, BSG Go! Project coordinator at BGZ Berlin Agency for international cooperation.

New Collaborations Between Members of The League

The League has already sparked new collaborations beyond the network itself. One example is the connection between Luleå University of Technology (LTU) and DE:HIVE GameHub Berlin. This relationship began during a League delegation and quickly led to an Erasmus Staff Exchange and plans for joint activities in game design education, showing how the network turns meetings into concrete outcomes.

– The LTU and DE:HIVE partnership shows how quickly new possibilities emerge when European hubs work with a shared vision. For us in Skellefteå, it opens the door to new knowledge, new methods, and practical steps we can take moving forward, says Tim Leinert, Project Manager at Skellefteå Science City.

Future Prospects for a Growing Sector

Today, The League is emerging as a stable European platform that gives game hubs access to shared tools, cross-border mentor mobility, reduced duplicated work, stronger international visibility, and new opportunities for EU funding. For Skellefteå Science City, leading the creation of The League is a major achievement that highlights our ability to build meaningful international structures, connect regions, and help shape how early-stage game development is supported across Europe.